Glove holding apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided for removably holding gloves to an article of clothing of a user when the gloves are not in use. The apparatus includes a connection assembly that secures a first clamp member to a second clamp member. The connection assembly permits the first and second clamp members to rotate about a common axis. Also, the connection assembly permits the first clamp member and the second clamp member to be pivotal with respect to said common axis relative to one another.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication entitled “Work Gloves Holder,” filed Mar. 1, 2005, andhaving Ser. No. 60/593,981. U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.60/593,981 is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for allpurposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of the present invention relates to a glove holdingapparatus which allows gloves that are not being worn by the user to beremovably attached to an article of clothing of the user, to aid inpreventing the inadvertent loss of the gloves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gloves are an essential protective device used by workers in manyworking environments. For example, gloves are often used by workers atconstruction sites to protect their hands while performing variousconstruction activities. For example, gloves are worn by welders toprotect their hands from hot sparks and molten metal. Gloves are alsoworn by workers performing manual labor to prevent blisters and otherinjuries caused by repetitive activities. However, construction workersdo not always wear the gloves when they are on the construction site. Infact, the continuous wearing of gloves can become a burden. For example,when filling out necessary paperwork or when the workers must attendmeetings or other activities, the gloves may actually become a hindranceto the performance of their duties. Often times, workers do not like touse gloves when they are not needed for safety purposes. Protectivegloves can not only be hot and uncomfortable, but they can alsointerfere with the ability of the wearer to do certain tasks like thehandling of delicate objects.

When the worker is not wearing the gloves, it is the worker'sresponsibility to keep track of them. Many times workers will carry thegloves around within in their hands or under their arms. However, thisoften leads to the gloves being laid down allowing for a greateropportunity for them to be misplaced or even stolen. An alternative isfor the worker to stick the gloves in their pants pockets. However,gloves are bulky and uncomfortable to be stored in such a place. At thesame time, if the gloves are to be secured to the worker or articles ofclothing of the worker, then the gloves should not become a hindrance oran impediment for the movement or actions of the user.

Therefore, a need for a simple solution exists to the current problemsoutlined above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to certain aspects of the invention, an apparatus forremovably holding gloves to an article of clothing of a user includes afirst clamp member having a head end and a handle end with a springdevice disposed therebetween. The head end of the first clamp member hasjaws capable of closing and opening to permit disposition on and removalfrom an article of clothing of the user, respectively. A second clampmember having a head end and a handle end with a spring device disposedtherebetween is also provided. The head end of the second clamp memberhas jaws capable of closing and opening to permit holding and releasingof at least one glove, respectively. A connection assembly secures thehandle end of the first clamp member to the handle end of the secondclamp member. The connection assembly permits the first and second clampmembers to rotate relative to each other about a common axis.

According to certain other aspects of the invention, an apparatus forremovably holding gloves to an article of clothing of a user includes afirst clamp member having a head end and a handle end with a springdevice disposed therebetween. The head end of the first clamp member hasjaws capable of closing and opening to permit disposition on and removalfrom an article of clothing of the user, respectively. A second clampmember having a head end and a handle end with a spring device disposedtherebetween is also provided. The head end of the second clamp memberhas jaws capable of closing and opening to permit holding and releasingof at least one glove, respectively. A first eyelet is integral to thehandle end of the first clamp member and a second eyelet is integral tothe handle end of the second clamp member. The first and second eyeletsinterlock to secure the first clamp member to the second clamp member.The interlocked first and second eyelets permit an angle of rotationabout a common axis of the first and second clamp members ranging fromabout 90° to about 180° and permit the first clamp member and the secondclamp member to pivot with respect to the common axis relative to oneanother.

According to certain further aspects of the invention, an apparatus forremovably holding gloves to an article of clothing of a user includes afirst clamp member having a head end and a handle end with a springdevice disposed therebetween. The head end of the first clamp member hasjaws capable of closing and opening to permit disposition on and removalfrom an article of clothing of the user, respectively. A second clampmember having a head end and a handle end with a spring device disposedtherebetween is also provided. The head end of the second clamp memberhas jaws capable of closing and opening to permit holding and releasingof at least one glove, respectively. A ball bearing assembly secures thehandle end of the first clamp member to the handle end of the secondclamp member. The ball bearing assembly permits the first and secondclamp members to rotate relative to each other about a common axis.

All the features of the subject matter will be described in greaterdetail through the use of the appended figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full an enabling disclosure of the present invention including thebest mode thereof to one of ordinary skill in the art is set forth moreparticularly in the remainder of the specification, including referencesto the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a gloveholding apparatus attached around an article of clothing of a useraccording to the present subject matter;

FIG. 2A illustrates a side view of the embodiment of the glove holdingapparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B illustrates another side view of the embodiment of the gloveholding apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial side view of another embodiment of theglove holding apparatus according to the present subject matter; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a partial side view of a further embodiment of theglove holding apparatus according to the present subject matter.

It should be noted that the drawings discussed above and below are notto scale in all instances, but may have exaggerated dimensions in somerespects to illustrate the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the presently preferred embodiments of theinvention, one or more examples of which are shown in the figures. Eachexample is provided to explain the invention and not as a limitation tothe invention. In fact, features described or illustrated as part of oneembodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a furtherembodiment. It is intended that the present invention cover suchmodifications and variations.

FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B illustrate a glove holding apparatus, or device,generally 10, which may be used to secure gloves not being worn by theuser to an article of clothing that the user may be wearing. The gloveholding apparatus 10 includes a first clamp member 12 secured to asecond clamp member 22 by a connection assembly 30. The first clampmember 12 has a head end 14 and a handle end 16. The head end 14includes a pair of jaws 15, which may be used to secure the first clampmember 12 to an article of clothing 40 or 42. The first clamp member istensioned by a spring device 18 such that the jaws 15 reside in a closedresting position. The spring device 18 is positioned between the headend 14 and the handle end 16 of the first clamp member 12 to create thetension in the jaws 15.

Similarly, the second clamp member 22 also has a head end 24 and ahandle end 26. The head end 24 includes a pair of jaws 25 which are usedto secure a pair of gloves 46. The jaws 25 reside in a closed positiondue to a spring device 28 disposed between the handle end 26 and thehead end 24 of the second clamp member 22.

The connection assembly 30 comprises a first eyelet 32 attached to thehandle end 16 of the first clamp member 12 and a second eyelet 34secured to the handle end 26 of the second clamp member 22. The firsteyelet 32 forms an aperture 33, while the second eyelet 34 forms anaperture 35. The eyelets are interlocked so that the first eyelet 32passes through the aperture 35 of the second eyelet 34 while the secondeyelet 34 passes through the aperture 33 of the first eyelet 32. Sincethe first eyelet 32 is integral with the handle end 16 of the firstclamp member 12 and the second eyelet 34 is integral to the handle end26 of the second clamp member 22, the first clamp member 12 is securelyattached to the second clamp member 22.

In the embodiment shown, the handle end 16 and head end 14 of the firstclamp member 12 are formed by two side arms 17, which are integrallyconnected at connection point 19 on the handle end 16. The spring device18 is secured between the two side arms 17 so that when the side arms 17are squeezed, or forced toward one another, the spring device 18compresses and the jaws 15 on the head end 14 of the first clamp member12 open. When the squeezing force is removed from the side arms 17, thenthe spring device 18 decompresses pushing against the side arms 17 toforce the jaws 15 into a closed resting position. In this manner, thefirst clamp member can be easily attached to an article of clothing suchas a belt 42, or pants 40 at the point such as a belt loop 44, bysqueezing the side arms 17 to open the jaws 15 of the head end 14,placing the jaws 15 around the article of clothing 40, 42, and thenletting the jaws 15 close securely around or onto the article ofclothing.

In a similar fashion, the second clamp member 22 in the embodiment shownhas two side arms 27, which are integrally connected at connection point29 at the handle end 26. The side arms 27 form the handle end 26 and thehead end 24 of the second clamp member 22. The spring device 28 isdisposed between the side arms 27 such that the spring device 28 pushesthe side arms 27 outward so as to put the jaws 25 in a closed restingposition. The side arms 27 can then be squeezed, or forced towards oneanother, so that the spring device 28 is compressed and the jaws 25 maybe opened to receive the gloves the person is not currently using. Thesqueezing force may then be removed from the side arms 27 to allow thespring device 28 to push the jaws 25 closed to securely engage thegloves to be held.

While the embodiments illustrated in the figures shown clamp membershaving a connection point at the handle end 16, 26 between the two sidearms 17, 27, other connection points are possible such as between thehead end 14, 24 and the handle end 16, 26. In other embodiments (notshown) where the connection point between the side arms is between thehandle end and the head end, the handle end may be made up of twoseparated handles that may be compressed toward one another to open thejaws. In such embodiments, the spring devices 18, 28 would be locatedbetween the respective handle ends and the head ends in such a mannerthat the spring devices 18, 28 would be disposed on the handle end sideof the connection point. The connection assembly may be attached toeither handle of the clamp member on the handle end.

In some embodiments, the first and second clamp members 12, 22 can beinterchangeable, meaning that each clamp member 12, 22 may be used aseither the clamp member that is secured to the article of clothing ofthe user or the clamp member that holds the pair of gloves 46. The firstand second clamp members 12, 22 in other embodiments, however, may bedesignated for specific use, where the first clamp member 12 isspecifically designed to be used to attach to the article of clothing ofthe user and the second clamp member 22 is specifically designed to beused to hold the pair of gloves 46. For example, the first clamp member12 may be of a different construction than the second clamp member 22.For instance, the spring device 18 in first clamp member 12 may create adifferent tension force than the spring device 28 in second clamp member22.

The spring devices 18, 28 in the shown embodiments are coiled springs.These spring devices 18, 28, however, may be other types of springs suchas leaf springs or the like. The spring devices 18, 28 should be adistinctive separate feature within each clamp member. The springdevices 18, 28 is removable and replaceable to allow the spring devices18, 28 to be changed as needed due to wear or a change in desiredgripping force for the respective clamp member 12, 22. By allowing thespring device 18, 28 to be exchangeable, the glove holding apparatus 10is adaptable to the needs of the user. The spring devices are vital tothe holding/attaching capabilities of the glove holding apparatus 10.The exchangeability of the spring devices 18, 28 increases the life andthe flexibility of the clamp members 12, 22 of glove holding apparatus10 that other clamps which use other mechanisms to create a clampingforce cannot obtain.

The use of spring devices 18, 28 within clamp member 12, 22 can createmore clamping force and allow for an adjustability of this force. Otherclamps, which use their own elastic tendencies of their structure andcomposing material to create this clamping force, cannot obtain the sameamount of force or the flexibility. The memory of the composing materialof such clamps greatly diminishes over time and with extended orfrequent use, thereby rendering the clamps worthless. When such memoryis diminished within those clamps, then the clamping force isdiminished. Further, the clamping force for such clamps cannot bechanged to suit the needs of the user.

Therefore, the spring devices 18, 28 provide a distinct advantage toglove holding apparatus 10. The spring devices help to create clampmembers 12, 22 that are sturdier, more reliable, and more controllable,while increasing the longevity of the glove holding apparatus 10.

In the embodiment shown, the tension force created by the spring devices18, 28 should be such that they do not cause the respective jaws 15, 25at the head ends 14, 24 to damage or otherwise leave impressions on thearticles to which they are attached. Thus, the tension force created bythe spring devices 18, 28 should be such that they are strong enough tohold the glove holding apparatus to the article of clothing and hold thegloves within the glove holding apparatus but not strong enough todamage or mar the article of the clothing to which they are attached orthe gloves which they may hold.

To this end, it can be beneficial if the jaws 15, 25 do not containsharp teeth or points, but rather have a dull end which will notpenetrate or scar the article of clothing or gloves to which they areattached. However, there should be enough friction created between thearticle of clothing or gloves and the jaws 15, 25 with which the articleof clothing or gloves come in contact, so that the jaws 15, 25 will notslip from the article of clothing or gloves once the jaws 15, 25 areclosed around that pair of gloves or article of clothing. Additionally,the jaws 15, 25 may create an open aperture 13, 23 between the closedjaws 15, 25, which allows the jaws to hook around an article of clothingsuch as a belt loop 44. In this manner, the jaws 15, 25 may close aroundthat belt loop 44 or other article of clothing so that the jaws 15, 25contact one another and the article passes through the aperture createdbetween the jaws 15, 25. Thus, the jaws 15, 25 are effectively hookedaround that piece of the article of clothing. For example, a belt loop,button hole of a jacket or shirt, or a tie loop on a pair of gloves maybe used to hook such jaws 15, 25 thereto to attach the glove holdingapparatus 10 to that article or pair of gloves.

By using the glove holding apparatus 10 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B,the gloves which are not being worn may be secured to an article ofclothing of the user so that they are readily available to the user whenthe gloves should be placed back on the user's hands. Through theconstruction of the connection assembly 30 the gloves may lay flatagainst the body of the wearer whether, for example, the first clampmember 12 is attached to the belt 42 or the belt loop 44. The use of thefirst and second eyelets 32, 34 in the embodiment permit the first clampmember 12 and the second clamp member 22 to rotate about a common axisC₁ in either rotational direction relative to one another as shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B.

In this manner, when the first clamp member 12 is attached to an articleof clothing, the second clamp member 22 may rotate so that the gloveslay flat against the body of the user or the article of clothing onwhich the glove holding apparatus resides. In the embodiment shown, dueto the diameter of the apertures 33, 35 as well as the cross-sectionaldiameter of the rings that form the eyelets 32, 34, the second clampmember 22 has an angle of rotation A₁ of about 180 degrees. Therefore,when the user attaches the first clamp member 12 to a belt 42 when theholding apparatus 10 is in an alignment shown in FIG. 2B, the secondclamp member 22 can turn 90 degrees from its position as shown in FIG.2B to the position that is shown in the alignment of the glove holdingapparatus 10 shown in FIG. 2A so that the gloves which are placed withinthe jaws 25 of the second clamp member 22 may lay flat against the bodyof the user. Similarly, if the first clamp member 12 is placed on a beltloop when the glove holding apparatus 10 is in an alignment shown inFIG. 2A, the second clamp member 22 may rotate around the common axis C,so that the first clamp member 12 and the second clamp member 22 alignin the positions shown in FIG. 2B.

The angle of rotation A₁ of the second clamp member 22 relative to thefirst clamp member 12 may depend on the type of connection assembly thatis used and the construction of that connection assembly. For example,in the embodiment shown, as stated above, the angle of rotation A₁ ofthe second clamp member 22 relative to the first clamp member 12 isabout 180 degrees in either rotational direction. However, if the sizeof the rings of the eyelets 32, 34 were larger in their cross-sectionaldiameter and the apertures 35, 33 were smaller in diameter, then theangle of rotation A₁ may be much less than 180 degrees. In other typesof connection assemblies, which may be used, the angle of rotation A₁may be a full 360 degrees (or fully and freely rotatable) as will bediscussed in other embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Preferably, the angle of rotation A₁ of the clamp members 12, 22 islarge enough so that no matter how the first clamp member 12 is attachedto an article of clothing of the user, the second clamp member 22 can beturned so that the gloves may reside against the body of the userwithout protruding outward thereby creating a possible impediment forthe user. By having an angle of rotation greater than about 90 degrees,the user can be assured that the gloves should always have theopportunity to reside flat against his or her body. Thus, the eyeletsand the apertures therein preferably are proportioned to allow an angleof rotation greater than about 90 degrees.

Another benefit of the connection assembly 30 shown in FIGS. 1, 2A, and2B is that the first clamp member 12 and the second clamp member 22 canpivot relative to one another from the common axis C₁. As shown in FIG.2B, the second clamp member 22 may pivot in either a direction P₁ or P₂when the first clamp member 12 is secured to an article of clothing. Inthis manner, the user who has the glove holding apparatus 10 attached tohis side may sit down and have the second clamp member 22 with thegloves therein pivot upward so as not to cause any discomfort orimpediment when the user is in a seated position. Further, such pivotalaction in either direction P₁ or P₂ allows the glove holding apparatus10 and the gloves being held by the apparatus to readily move and bendwith the user thereby decreasing the opportunity for the glove holdingapparatus 10 or the gloves attached thereto to be caught or snagged onsome obstruction that the user may pass by, thereby limiting the chancethat the glove holder apparatus 10 may become an impediment to the userthat wears it. Such a feature is especially useful when the gloveholding apparatus 10 is worn around the waist.

The eyelets allow the clamps to pivot relative to one another withoutrequiring the eyelets to be flexible. Therefore, the eyelets can beconstructed on rigid and sturdy material, such as certain plastics or ametal such as aluminum, steel, iron, or the like. By not having toconstruct the eyelets 32, 34 out of flimsy material that can easily tearor pull apart from the clamp members 12, 22, the glove holding apparatus10 also becomes sturdier.

The overall length of the glove holder apparatus 10 should be such thatit is not a hindrance to the user's movement when it is hanging from theuser's waist. For example, in some embodiments, the overall length ofthe glove holder apparatus 10 can be between about 6 inches and about 10inches, though other lengths are contemplated. Similarly, the length ofeach clamp member 12, 22 should be such that it is not an impediment tothe user when the user is entering a seated position when the gloveholder apparatus 10 is worn around the waist.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate other types of connection assemblies that maybe used to connect the first clamp member to the second clamp member ofthe glove holding apparatus. In FIG. 3, the connection assembly is aswivel device 130 which allows the first and second clamp members 112,122 to rotate a full 360 degrees about a common axis C₂ degrees (orfully and freely rotatable) relative to the other clamp member. Theswivel device 130 has a first swivel component 132 attached to the firstclamp member 112 and a second swivel component 134 attached to thesecond clamp member 122 of the glove holding apparatus 110.

The first swivel component 132 and second swivel component 134 areconnected by a pin 136. The pin 136 has an axle 137 which passes throughapertures (not shown) in the first swivel component 132 and the secondswivel component 134. At either end of the pin 136, a stop 138, 139,respectively, is attached to the axle 137 of the pin 136. The stops 138,139 are larger than the apertures in the swivel components 132, 134through which the axle 137 passes. In this manner, the first swivelcomponent 132 is secured to the second swivel component 134 and,thereby, the first clamp member 112 is secured to the second clampmember 122. Both the first swivel component 132 and the second swivelcomponent 134 may rotate freely around the axle 137 of the pin 136.Thus, the first clamp member 112 and the second clamp member 122 mayrotate fully around about the common axis C₂ relative to the otherclamp. Thus, the second clamp 122 may rotate 360 degrees relative to thefirst clamp 112 when the first clamp 112 is attached to an article ofclothing of the user.

The attachment of the swivel components 132 and 134 to each of therespective clamp members 112, 122 may be a rigid connection or may be aconnection which provides that the swivel components are moveable sothat the first clamp member 112 and 122 are pivotal relative to oneanother about the common axis C₂. However, connections of the swivelcomponents 132,134 to their respective clamp members 112, 122 may berigid. In some such embodiments, the apertures of the swivel components132, 134 and the length of the axle 137 of the pin 136 may allow theswivel components to be pivotal relative to one another.

For example, in FIG. 3 the length of the axle 137 of the pin 136 is suchthat the swivel components 132, 134 are separated by a space W₁. Theswivel components have apertures through which the axle 137 extends thatare wide enough to allow the swivel components 132, 134 to pivot in alimited manner relative to one another due to the space W₁ providedbetween the two swivel components 132, 134. In this manner, the firstand second clamp members 112, 122 may still be able to pivot relative toone another.

In FIG. 4, the glove holding apparatus 210 shows a connection assemblycomprising a ball bearing joint 230. The ball bearing joint 230 includesan inner race component 234 and an outer race component 232. The innerrace component 234 has arms 235 which connect to the second clamp member222 of the glove holding device 210. The outer race component 232 hasarms which extend upward which connect to the first clamp member 212.The inner race component 234 has a top that resides on the side walls ofthe outer race component 232 which creates a chamber in which ballbearings 240 reside. In this manner, the first clamp member 212 and thesecond clamp member 222 may rotate about a common axis C₃ by having theouter and inner race components 232, 234 to which each respective clampmember 212, 222 is attached rotate relative to the other race componentto which the other clamp member is attached. Through the use of the ballbearing connection assembly 230, the first clamp member 212 and thesecond clamp member 222 may rotate about the common axis C₃ 360 degrees(or fully and freely rotate) in either rotational direction relative toone another. It should be noted that within this specification when itis mentioned that a clamp member can rotate 360 degrees this is also toinclude such embodiments which may rotate more than 360 degrees or havea continuous range of motion in one direction of rotation and/or theother.

The outer and inner race components 232, 234 may be attached to theirrespective clamp members 212, 222 by pins 236, 238. These pins 236, 238allow the respective clamp member 212, 222 to rotate about the pin 236,238 relative to the respective outer and inner race component 232, 234to which the clamp member 212, 222 is attached. In this manner the clampmembers 212, 222 are capable of pivoting relative to one another. Inother embodiments, the outer and inner race components 232, 234 may berigidly attached to the respective clamp member 212, 222.

It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the scope of the invention. It was intended thatthe present invention include such modifications and variations whichcome within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. An apparatus for removably holding gloves to an article of clothingof a user when the gloves are not in use, said apparatus comprising: afirst clamp member having a head end and a handle end with a springdevice disposed therebetween, said head end of said first clamp memberhaving jaws capable of closing and opening to permit disposition on andremoval from an article of clothing of the user, respectively; a secondclamp member having a head end and a handle end with a spring devicedisposed therebetween, said head end of said second clamp member havingjaws capable of closing and opening to permit holding and releasing ofat least one glove, respectively; and a connection assembly securingsaid handle end of said first clamp member to said handle end of saidsecond clamp member, said connection assembly permitting said first andsecond clamp members to rotate relative to each other about a commonaxis.
 2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said connection assemblypermits an angle of rotation about said common axis of said first clampmember and said second clamp member relative to one another ranging fromabout 90° to 360° or more.
 3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein saidconnection assembly comprises a swivel device.
 4. An apparatus as inclaim 1, wherein said connection assembly comprises a ball bearingassembly.
 5. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said connectionassembly comprises a first eyelet integral to said handle end of saidfirst clamp member and a second eyelet integral to said handle end ofsaid second clamp member, said first and second eyelets interlocking tosecure said first clamp member to said second clamp member.
 6. Anapparatus as in claim 1, wherein said first clamp member and said secondclamp member are pivotal with respect to said common axis relative toone another.
 7. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said jaws of saidfirst clamp member are disposable around at least one of a belt or abelt loop.
 8. An apparatus for removably holding gloves to an article ofclothing of a user when the gloves are not in use, said apparatuscomprising: a first clamp member having a head end and a handle end witha spring device disposed therebetween, said head end of said first clampmember having jaws capable of closing and opening to permit dispositionon and removal from an article of clothing of the user, respectively; asecond clamp member having a head end and a handle end with a springdevice disposed therebetween, said head end of said second clamp memberhaving jaws capable of closing and opening to permit holding andreleasing of at least one glove, respectively; and a first eyeletintegral to said handle end of said first clamp member and a secondeyelet integral to said handle end of said second clamp member, saidfirst and second eyelets interlocking to secure said first clamp memberto said second clamp member, said interlocked first and second eyeletspermitting an angle of rotation about a common axis of said first andsecond clamp members ranging from about 90° to about 180° and permittingsaid first clamp member and said second clamp member to be pivotal withrespect to said common axis relative to one another.
 9. An apparatus forremovably holding gloves to an article of clothing of a user when thegloves are not in use, said apparatus comprising: a first clamp memberhaving a head end and a handle end with a spring device disposedtherebetween, said head end of said first clamp member having jawscapable of closing and opening to permit disposition on and removal froman article of clothing of the user, respectively; a second clamp memberhaving a head end and a handle end with a spring device disposedtherebetween, said head end of said second clamp member having jawscapable of closing and opening to permit holding and releasing of atleast one glove, respectively; and a ball bearing assembly securing saidhandle end of said first clamp member to said handle end of said secondclamp member, said ball bearing assembly permitting said first andsecond clamp members to rotate relative to each other about a commonaxis.
 10. An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said ball bearing assemblyincludes an outer race component secured to one of said first or secondclamp members and an inner race component secured to the other of saidfirst or second clamp members, said outer race component and said innerrace component interlocking to create a chamber in which ball bearingsreside.
 11. An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein each of said outer racecomponent and said inner race component is secured to said respectiveclamp member by a pin, said pins permitting said first clamp member andsaid second clamp member to be pivotal with respect to said common axisrelative to one another.
 12. An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein saidball bearing assembly permitting an angle of rotation about a commonaxis of said first and second clamp members of 360° or more.